Pile axle

ABSTRACT

A center spindle for a record-changing phonograph which comprises a sleeve having a plurality of substantially axially directed slots disposed at the periphery of the upper part of the sleeve in two groups of different heights. Furthermore, a primary control means is disposed axially displaceable in the upper part of the sleeve, and a plurality of primary record-supporting means is movably connected with the primary control means and disposed in an upper group of the slots. The sleeve has an inwardly projecting inclined portion in the upper group of the slot and the inclined portion defines an inclined engagement face. The primary record-supporting means cooperates with the inclined face to push radially out of the sleeve the primary record-supporting means during downward movement of the primary control means. First spring means engage the sleeve and the primary control means and urge the latter with pretension into its lower position. A secondary control means is displaced axially displaceable in the sleeve below the primary control means. A plurality of secondary record-supporting means is movably connected with the secondary control means and is disposed in a lower group of the slots at a height below the primary supporting means for about the thickness of a record. The lower edge of the lower group of slots cooperates with the secondary recordsupporting means, to withdraw the latter during downward movement of the secondary control means within the sleeve. Second spring means connect operatively with the sleeve and with the secondary control means and urge the latter with pretension into its lower position, and the primary and the secondary control means are disposed at a distance from each other, so that the lifting of the secondary control means from its lower position causes at first the projection of the secondary supporting means from the periphery of the sleeve, until its remaining path in upward direction the primary control means joins the upward movement.

United States Patent [72] inventor Helmut Lauier St. Georgen, Black Forest, Germany [2! 1 Appl. No. 800,508 [22] Filed Feb. 19, 1969 [45] Patented June 1, I971 [73] Assignee Firma Dual Gebruder Steidinger St. Georgen, Black Forest, Germany [32] Priority Feb. 29, 1968 3 3] Germany [3|] P 16 22 055.6

[54] PlLE AXLE 2 Claims, 1 Drawing Fig.

[52] US. Cl 274/10 [51] lnt.Cl ..Glld 17/04 [50] Field of Search 274/10 S [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,081,093 3/1963 Tiedtke 274/l 08 3,083,022 3/1963 7 Hansen 274/l0S Primary Examiner- Harry N. Haroian Attorney-Emest G. Montague ABSTRACT: A center spindle for a record-changing phonograph which comprises a sleeve having a plurality of substantially axially directed slots disposed at the periphery of the upper part of the sleeve in two groups of different heights. Furthermore, a primary control means is disposed axially displaceable in the upper part of the sleeve, and a plurality of primary record-supporting means is movably connected with the primary control means and disposed in an upper group of the slots. The sleeve has an inwardly projecting inclined portion in the upper group of the slot and the inclined portion defines an inclined engagement face. The primary record-supporting means cooperates with the inclined face to push radially out of the sleeve the primary record-supporting means during downward movement of the primary control means. First spring means engage the sleeve and the primary control means and urge the latter with pretension into its lower position. A secondary control means is displaced axially displaceable in the sleeve below the primary control means. A plurality of secondary record-supporting means is movably connected with the secondary control means and is disposed in a lower group of the slots at a height below the primary supporting means for about the thickness of a record. The lower edge of the lower group of slots cooperates with the secondary recordsupporting means, to withdraw the latter during downward movement of the secondary control means within the sleeve. Second spring means connect operatively with the sleeve and with the secondary control means and urge the latter with pretension into its lower position, and the primary and the secondary control means are disposed at a distance from each other, so that the lifting of the secondary control means from its lower position causes at first the projection of the secondary supporting means from the periphery of the sleeve, until its remaining path in upward direction the primary control means joins the upward movement.

PILE AXLE The present invention relates to a pile spindle, in general, and to such pile spindle usable for a record changer with holding elements exchangeably spreadable radially out of the spindle and supporting elements disposed therebelow, which holding and supporting elements are disposed on a holding member which in turn is longitudinally displaceable within the spindle and which elements are operated by an axially disposed displaceable rod in cooperation with a jacket portion of the throwoff spindle, in particular.

in throwoff spindles of the above-stated type it is conventional to push the holding elements into their operative position by means of an axially operating spring. The decisive advantage of such arrangement resides in the fact, that the spindle does not draw the high-energy requirement upon start of the record changer from the motor being in the starting position, rather the energy stored in the previously mentioned spring can be used. The operating rod of the spindle exerts thus in this part of the operating period a pressure onto the record changer means. This pressure ceases now with the clamping of the holding elements on the record of the storage pile being the second from the bottom. in order now to be in a position to draw inwardly thereafter the supporting elements, a further movement of the operating rod must take place, which takes place such, that the latter is now actively pulled by the record changer means. The reversal of the direction of the force connected therewith on the coupling point between the spindle and the record changer means complicates the formation of the coupling point.

In many record changers, the spindles are guided only for the essentially necessary length in the record plate bearing in mind the low structural height in musical furniture. Since this bearing must be longer, however, than the required spindle guide, the necessity presents itself, to extend the spindle by a separate member remaining in the device during spindle change. in such spindle, a pulling-pushing transmitting connection is particularly complicated, because two coupling points result thereby.

Pile spindles are known, where the coupling point is subjected to strain only in one direction. In such spindles, the arrangement of the holding elements is made such however, that the spreading force for clamping of the record next to the lowermost record must be produced by the motor about to start. A reversal of the force and of the movement conditions is not easily possible, since in these spindles also the coupling I conditions between the holding and the supporting elements forces for their operation.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a pile spindle, wherein by combination the holding elements are retained in their effective position by means of an axially operating spring and the supporting elements are retained with a further likewise axially operating spring in their inoperative position.

With these and other objects in view, which will become ap- 7 parent in the following detailed description, the present invention, which is shown by example only, will be clearly understood in connection with the accompanying drawing, in

which the only FIGURE shows an axial section of a pile spindle in a concise showing.

Referring now to the drawing, the pile spindle comprises an outer sleeve 1, which is held in an immovable bearing sleeve 2. Crosswise through the sleeve 1 is provided a pin 7, which projects on one side and which serves for locking the pile spindle in the bearing sleeve 2 in form of a bayonet joint. in the sleeve 1 displaceably mounted a rod 3. The rod 3 contains at its -'upper end three grooves 4, in each of which a supporting element 5 is guided, which supporting elements 5 point outwardly by means of slots 6 of the sleeve 1. The lower end of the rod 3 carries a disc 8. Between the disc 8 and the pin7 disposed a pressure spring 9. A displaceable pin 10 follows downwardly from the rod 3. The pin 10 cooperates with a control lever ll of the changing device (not shown) driven by the motor. In the upper part of the spindle is disposed an axially displaceable holding part 12, on which holding elements 13 are arranged. They are pushed by means of a pressure spring 14 and the face 16 of an oblique projection on the sleeve 1 into their operative position.

The throwoff spindle is shown in the drawing in its resting position. In this case, the holding part 12 is retained in its upper position above the pin 10 and the rod 3, in which upper position the holding elements 13 are disposed still within the sleeve 1. The storage pile of records supports itself on the supporting elements 5. if the changing device lowers the control lever 11, the holding part 12, being under the effect of the spring 14, follows and the holding elements 13 slide on the inclined face 16 of the sleeve 1 outwardly and clamp the record storage pile at the record next to the lowermost of the records, whereby the movement of the holding part 12 ceases. From now on, the spring 9 only assumes the further operation of the spindle, as a consequence of the movement of the con-' trol lever 11, due to the fact that the spring 9 presses therod 3 on the disc 8 downwardly and thus withdraws the supporting elements 5 in cooperation with an edge .15 of the sleeve 1 into the latter, whereby the lowermost record 17 of the pile falls down.

if the control lever 11 moves upwardly, the process steps are repeated in reverse order. The springs 9 and 14 are thereby again tensioned.

in order to remove the pile spindle out of thedevice, the latter is rotated, so that the pin 7 moves from a horizontal into a vertical slot section of the bearing sleeve 2, whereby the spindle is expelled by the effect of the springs 9 and 14.

While I have disclosed one embodiment of the present invention, it is to be understood that this embodiment is given by example only and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A center spindle for a record-changing phonograph comprising:

a sleeve having a plurality of substantially axially directed slots disposed at the periphery of the upper part of said sleeve in two groups at different heights,

a primary control means disposed axially displaceable in the upper part of said sleeve,

a plurality of primary record-supporting means movably connected with said primary control means and disposed in an upper group of said slots,

said sleeve having an inwardly projecting inclined portion in each slot of said upper group of said slots and said inclined portion defining an inclined engagement face,

said primary record-supporting means cooperating with said inclined face to push radially out of said sleeve said primary record-supporting means during downward movement of said primary control means,

first spring means on one side thereof engaging said sleeve and on another side thereof operatively engaging said primary control means and urging the latter with pretension into its lower position,

a separate secondary control means disposed axially displaceable in said sleeve below said primary control means,

a plurality of secondary record-supportng means movably connected with said secondary control means and disposed in a lower group of said slots at a height below said primary supporting means for about the thickness of a record,

the lower edge of said lower group of slots cooperating with said secondary record-supporting means, to withdraw the latter during downward movement of said secondary control means within said sleeve,

second spring means operatively connected with said sleeve and with said secondary control means and urging the latter with pretension into its lower position, and

said primary and said secondary control means being disposed at a distance from each other so that the lifting of said secondary control means from its lower position causes at first the projection of said secondary supporting means from the periphery of said sleeve, until during its remaining path in upward direction said primary control means joins said upward movement.

2. In a phonograph, as set forth in claim I,

a plate,

an immovable bearing means and said plate revolving about said plate,

the upper face of said plate being substantially flush with the upper end of said bearing means,

force of said second spring connected therewith and.

thereafter said primary control means by means of said secondary control means against the force of said first spring means connected therewith. 

1. A center spindle for a record-changing phonograph comprising: a sleeve having a plurality of substantially axially directed slots disposed at the periphery of the upper part of said sleeve in two groups at different heights, a primary control means disposed axially displaceable in the upper part of said sleeve, a plurality of primary record-supporting means movably connected with said primary control means and disposed in an upper group of said slots, said sleeve having an inwardly projecting inclined portion in each slot of said upper group of said slots and said inclined portion defining an inclined engagement face, said primary record-supporting means cooperating with said inclined face to push radially out of said sleeve said primary record-supporting means during downward movement of said primary control means, first spring means on one side thereof engaging said sleeve and on another side thereof operatively engaging said primary control means and urging the latter with pretension into its lower position, a separate secondary control means disposed axially displaceable in said sleeve below said primary control means, a plurality of secondary record-supportng means movably connected with said secondary control means and disposed in a lower group of said slots at a height below said primary supporting means for about the thickness of a record, the lower edge of said lower group of slots cooperating with said secondary record-supporting means, to withdraw the latter during downward movement of said secondary control means within said sleeve, second spring means operatively connected with said sleeve and with said secondary control means and urging the latter with pretension into its lower position, and said primary and said secondary control means being disposed at a distance from each other so that the lifting of said secondary control means from its lower position causes at first the projection of said secondary supporting means from the periphery of said sleeve, until during its remaining path in upward direction said primary control means joins said upward movement.
 2. In a phonograph, as set forth in claim 1, a plate, an immovable bearing means and said plate revolving about said plate, the upper face of said plate being substantially flush with the upper end of said bearing means, said secondary control means projecting downwardly slightly beyond said sleeve, said bearing means has a concentric bore adapted for selective reception of said sleeve, the latter entering said bore as much as is required for a safe holding of said sleeve, locking means for securing said sleeve against axial displacement of the latter in the bore of said bearing means, and additional control means projecting from below into the bore of said bearing means and lifting by a pressure movement at first said secondary control means against the force of said second spring connected therewith and thereafter said primary control means by means of said secondary control means against the force of said first spring means connected therewith. 